in Thailand Veerasak Udomchoke, 1 Yupa Mongkolsook 1, Wikhan Anapanurak 1, Maliwan Thanasombat 1 and Krongjit Kasjinda 1

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "in Thailand Veerasak Udomchoke, 1 Yupa Mongkolsook 1, Wikhan Anapanurak 1, Maliwan Thanasombat 1 and Krongjit Kasjinda 1"

Marcus Ellis
5 years ago
Views:

1 ST1A-1-1: The Environmental Conditions for Natural Distribution of Paper Mulberry in Thailand Veerasak Udomchoke, 1 Yupa Mongkolsook 1, Wikhan Anapanurak 1, Maliwan Thanasombat 1 and Krongjit Kasjinda 1 ABSTRACT The environmental conditions for the natural distribution of paper mulberry in northern and northeastern Thailand were determined for different landform, soil conditions and climatic conditions. The climatic conditions of the study areas were influenced mainly by the northeast and southwest monsoons. Distribution of paper mulberry across the northern and northeastern regions suggests that climatic conditions at the study sites are not a major environmental factor for the natural distribution of paper mulberry. Paper mulberry can grow on many kinds of soil and is able to tolerate a wide range of conditions, ph range 4.9 to 8.1, available phosphorus more than 104 ppm and available potassium ppm, available calcium and magnesium between 680 to 5,700 ppm. It is therefore clear that soil conditions are also not the major environmental factor for the natural distribution of paper mulberry. The chemical composition of the bark was the same between sites. The specific habitat of paper mulberry is the limiting factor in establishing a pure stand for paper mulberry planting area. INTRODUCTION Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent.), a broad leaf fast growing tree, is classified in the Moraceae family in Thailand, is found disturbed in moist mixed deciduous forest, along the creeks and banks of rivers. Paper mulberry has been used in Thailand as a raw material in hand paper making for a long time. Today, demand for paper mulberry is rapidly increasing, resulting in the importation of a large amount of imported paper mulberry inner bark from Laos (PDR) and 1 Kasetsart Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Product Improvement Institute (KAPI), Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand

2 Myanmar. Thailand is not able to produce enough. It is therefore necessary to know how to increase the quality and production of the paper mulberry as well as how to encourage farmers to undertake extensive agroforestry farming. Selection of paper mulberry varieties under environmental factors for each site may be a major strategy to improve productivity and profitability. Farmers can be encouraged to partake in agroforestry plantation systems with the direct outcome of better income and indirect outcome of environmental improvement. OBJECTIVES Research was undertaken to determine the environmental conditions that control distribution of paper mulberry in Thailand, by: 1) Identifying and collecting samples of different varieties of paper mulberry in northern and northeastern Thailand based on soil properties, topography, landform and climatic conditions. 2) Study the physical and chemical properties of paper mulberry in order to identify the inter-intra relationships between the most optimal variety and selected site. 3) Analyse the behaviour of each varieties of paper mulberry in each environmental conditions. PREVIOUS STUDIES Paper mulberry (Brousonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent.) is classified in the family Moraceae. Its vernacular name in Thailand is po krasaa or po sa. Phengklai and Khamsai (1985) described B. `papyrifera as a fast growing shrub or small tree. In Thailand, paper mulberry exists as gregarious tree disturbed in areas of moist mixed deciduous forests along streams banks in valleys and floodplain over the country. Such forests, in Thailand, are seasonal controlled and contain a mixture of deciduous and evergreen plants. Paper mulberry requires direct light, tolerates a wide range of water as well as soil and temperature conditions. Paper mulberry withstands heat and dust and is drought resistant. However, it will not grow in all soil conditions and requires protection from wind. The environmental 5

3 requirements for natural breeding and dispersal by paper mulberry are not well known. Male and female flowers are in separate trees and its pollen is dispersed by wind (Matthews, 1996). The bark of paper mulberry is the most important material for hand papermaking. In the Northern Thailand, many villages are engaged in papermaking with B. papyrifera. In villages papermaking is the major form of family income. At the same time, B. papyrifera is used as a raw material in the paper industry sector (Shinya, 1998). In 1995, total demand of paper mulberry in Thailand was approximately 68,000 T but now only 4,700 T can supplied in the marketing system and most paper mulberry used in Thailand is imported from Laos (Supapornhemin, 1996). In Thailand there are 4 well-known species of paper mulberry ; B. papyrifera, B. kurzii, B. kazinoki and B. kaempferi (Phetcharaburanin and Sirichanthana, 1983). MATERIALS AND METHODS Varieties of paper mulberry which are highly productive and attract a good price were selected from different regions in Thailand, in order to analyze the effect of landform, topography, climatic conditions and soil properties (from floodplain up to the high mountain in term of cross section with elevation) on their intra relationships in between varieties to the effect of the environmental factors. The inter-relationships of each variety that were of advantage and disadvantage in each environmental condition were compared. The major physical and chemical properties were analysed using standard methods to support the comparison and analysis of inter and intrarelationships between variety and environmental conditions. RESULTS Results of the research on environmental conditions for paper mulberry distribution in Thailand comprised of the distribution behaviour of paper mulberry, growth and succession behaviour, chemical and physical properties of proper paper mulberry barks are as follows: 6

banks in the floodplain area and in sloping areas.

4 Figure 1. Locations of the selected site in the Northern (left) and in the Northeastern (right) Distribution behaviour Paper mulberry of all varieties was found in the moist soil area along creeks and river banks in the floodplain area and in sloping areas. Paper mulberry was also found on the terrace of gravelly soil and lateristic soil, the undulating terrain of terrace topography at the footslope of the mountains in northern and northeastern areas between the floodplain and undulating terrain in the northeastern (Figure 2). Figure 2. Paper mulberry can distributively grow up in the moist area even though in rocky soil Topographic condition Paper mulberry was also found, both in the undulating terrain and rolling topography, but also in the moist soil area along creeks and moist valleys. Valley orientation in the mountainous area was also an important factor influencing distribution of paper mulberry due to light intensity. Paper 7

Lithologic conditions Paper mulberry grows on many types of soil and rock.

5 mulberry was found in valleys of east-west alignment more sun than in the north-south alignment. Paper mulberry was also found on high mountains at elevations greater than 1,800 m, this despite the low temperature (Figure 3). Lithologic conditions Paper mulberry grows on many types of soil and rock. Sandy soil on high mountain, clay soil in the floodplain area, silt sand on the terrace terrain, sandy clay on the rugged terrain. Growth is also supported on sandy loam, loamy sand and sandy clay loam texture of the hilly terrain area (see Figure 4). A broad range of soil properties can support paper mulberry growth. Paper mulberry can grow on a wide range of soil conditions, ph in the range 4.9 to 8.1, wide variation of organic matter content, between 1.5% to 5.8%. This plant requires a high level of phosphorus (more than 104 ppm.) and potassium should range between ppm. Calcium and magnesium requirements vary between 680 to 5,700 ppm (Table 1). Figure 3. Paper mulberry can grow up on the high mountain (left) and on the opened hilly terrain Climatic conditions Climatic conditions of the selected sites were influenced mainly by the northeast and southwest monsoons. The mean annual rainfall ranged between 1,200 to 1,400 mm with maximum rainfall in September and minimum in January. Mean annual temperatures of both regions were between 25.5 C and 25.6 C, respectively, the maximum temperature was in April and minimum 8

6 temperature in December. Mean annual relative humidity of the study areas was about 73% in both the north and northeast. Differences in the climatic region of north and northeast are shown in Figure 5. Chemical analysis results Results of the chemical analysis on bark of natural paper mulberry at different sites are shown in Table 2. Each were characterized by: lignin content of the natural paper mulberry s bark ranges between %, holocellulose content was high between to %, ash content was low 2.96% to 4.55%. Table 1. Physical and chemical properties of soils from each selected sites Selected site locations ph Sand (%) Silt (%) Clay (%) Texture Organic matter (%) Phosphorus content (ppm) Potassium content (ppm) Calcium content (ppm) Magnesium content (ppm) Ban Huai Na, Amphoe Wangchin C (FP) Tambon Wangchin, Phrae (HT) CL Ban Mae Sin Junction (FP) C Huai Sai Toon, Phrae (HT) SC Huai Gaet, Phrae (HM) SCL Bo Kaew, Nan (HT) SL Ban Rai Praiwan, Phayao (UT) CL Chiang Kham, Phayao (UT) SCL Khun Kong, Chiang Mai (HM) SL Note: HM = High Mountain Terrain HT = Hilly Terrain UT = Undulating Terrain FP = Floodplain 9

and cool dry season B5 = mountainous with cool dry season in valleys Tropical Monsoon Climate with Rainy and Dry Season C1 = with moderate

7 Final Report Figure 4. Paper mulberry can grow up very well in moist sandy soil (left) as well as lateristic soil (right) Figure 5. Climatic regions of northern and northeastern Thailand Tropical Monsoon Climate with Long Rainy Season B4 = with moderate to high rainfall and cool dry season B5 = mountainous with cool dry season in valleys Tropical Monsoon Climate with Rainy and Dry Season C1 = with moderate to high rainfall C2 = with low rainfall C3 = with low rainfall and cool dry season Tropical Monsoon Climate with Long Dry Season D1 = with low rainfall 10

8 Table 2. Chemical analysis on bark of natural paper mulberry Selected site locations Raw material chemical composition (percentage base on ovendry weight ) Alcoholbenzene Solubility Alcohol solubility Hot water solubility Total extractive 1% NaOH solubility Ash Lignin Holo cellulose Ban Huai Na, Amphoe Wangchin (FP) Tambon Wangchin, Phrae (HT) Huai Sai Toon, Phrae (HT) Huai Gaet, Phrae (HM) Bo Kaew, Nan (HT) Ban Rai Praiwan, Phayao (UT) Chiang Kham, Phayao (UT) Khun Kong, Chiang Mai (HM) Growth and succession behavior Growth and succession behavior of paper mulberry pioneer species in exposed areas was good. Very good succession of paper mulberry from the parent tree by their stolons was observed (Figure 6). Strong stolon s grow effectively along the underground shoot. Keeping the parent tree, but cutting the stolon shoot is a good conservation practice to manage the paper mulberry plantation program. 11

terrace, hilly landform and high mountain. Paper mulberry grows well in the moist area along the bank of the creek and in the valley of moist soil.

9 Figure 6. The radially distribute of paper mulberry s stolon 30 m around the parent tree CONCLUSION Paper mulberry can grow in all climatic conditions as well as on many types of soil, including floodplain, terrace, hilly landform and high mountain. Paper mulberry grows well in the moist area along the bank of the creek and in the valley of moist soil. Parent trees of paper mulberry distribute their stolon 30 m radially. The strong stolon grows effectively along the underground shoot and the poorer shoot is inhibited. Chemical analyses of natural paper mulberry bark collected at the different sites were the same. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors wish to gratefully thank The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and The Kasetsart Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Product Improvement Institute (KAPI) and The Research and Development Institute for Agricultural Systems under Adverse Conditions for supporting staffs and facilities to carry out this research work. REFERENCES Matthews, P. J Ethnobotany and the origins of Broussonetia papyrifera in Polynesia: an essay on Tapa prehistory. New Zealand J. Archeol. Special publication. pp

10 Phengklai, C. and S. Khamsai Some non-timber species of Thailand. Thai Forest Bulletin. 15: Phetcharaburanin, C. and A. Sirichanthana History of varietal improvement in paper mulberry. Cited by Ammaritsut, V. Po-sa. Agriculture Development Center in Northeast Thailand. p. 13. (in Thai). Shinya, T Production and utilization of paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) in Thailand, Burma and Laos (draft). Reserch Project for Higher Utilization of Forestry and Agricultural Plant Material. KU-KAPI-JICA. p. 11. Supapornhemin, P Production technology of sa paper mulberry (brief). Chiangmai Field Crops Research Center, Field Crops Research Institute, Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agricultural and Cooperatives. p. 4. (in Thai). 13

NEW ERA OF CLEANER PRODUCTION IN MULBERRY PAPER INDUSTRY

NEW ERA OF CLEANER PRODUCTION IN MULBERRY PAPER INDUSTRY T. Tawonpanich, P. Srinophakun * and T. Srinophakun Chemical Engineering Department, Kasetsart University, Jatujak, Bangkaen, Bangkok 10900 Thailand